CLEMSON — Clemson offensive lineman Walker Parks spoke with the media earlier this week as the Tigers host Syracuse Saturday (noon, ESPN) at Memorial Stadium. 

Question: What’s it like being back out there playing?

Parks: “It was a great opportunity. I got to go out there versus Troy for a couple plays. I got nine snaps to test out the knee and see how I felt after I got rolled up in camp. Obviously, not the outcome we wanted, but I try to play physical and try to play the best of my ability. So, it’s nice being back out on the field.”

Question: How prepared did you feel to be able to play a full game?

Parks: “I was fully ready. We have such an incredible training staff. I felt good after a week or two, so I was back conditioning, training, doing everything but the only thing was getting back into football shape and getting back into the movements of my knee. Going out, when I took the field at Georgia Tech, and I felt fine. Fortunately, I felt great. Going out there. I’m fully healthy and ready.”

Question: What do you feel like? Is the confidence level of this offense right now?

Parks: “My mindset hasn’t changed at all. This is still a confident offense. We haven’t been executing at the level we need to execute at, and we know that. It’s not a secret. It’s on film and everyone’s seen that. I think everyone knows of the talent of this offense. Although it hasn’t shown, these are the same guys from last year. Got a lot of guys back. We’re close. We’re right there. The physicality upfront, we gotta take that to another level. The offense is a whole, if we get moving on the right track, and we will, everything’s right there in front of us.” 

Question: Everyone going into the season during camp talks about how great the leadership is. What does the leadership need to look like from your eyes as a veteran?

Parks: “I would say the leadership now needs to remain as it was. If we’re 3-0, it’s easy to give the guys the rah-rah speech. When you’re 1-2 and you’re not where you guys expected to be, this is where leadership needs to be at the best. This is where guys need to step up and get in front of the team and set the standard. The leadership is critical right now. It’s about executing a plan to win, the details, and the things we focus on every single week.”